Melbourne Town Hall – A Majestic Building with Politics and Culture Fusion

After visiting Council House 2 or CH2, the next building that I visited was Melbourne Town Hall. It was one of the biggest building that I had visited during the Open House Melbourne event last July 2013 and it was one of the building that I enjoyed because I had a chance to see what’s inside of it. I used to pass the town hall every time I traveled back and forth along Swanston Street before but only during the event that I had a chance to see it up close.

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Melbourne Town Hall

Hallways

When I entered the building from Swanston Street, the hallway immediately impressed me. I felt that I stepped back in time because all the things that I saw were scenery from modern 18th century time. From the carpet that I walked-in, to the artifacts displayed between walls, to its lightnings and ceilings and to its doors that I passed to see a specific room. I just a hallway but I really enjoyed it.

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Interesting things that I saw here  was the caption of one of the keys being displayed along the hallway, the capital city of my country which is Manila. Below was snapshot, a key of City of Manila.

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Council Chambers

The first room that I entered to see was Council Chambers Room. I immediately got curious when I saw the room even I was still standing in the door. There were many visitors like myself explored the room. Anyone can sense that it was a meeting room, because of the way a semi-circular tiered seating arranged and where the Lord Mayor’s chair and table stands. I spent sometime here because I wanted to get my chance to sit in the Lord Mayor’s chair to have my souvenir in the room.

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Photos inside Council Chambers

Yarra Room

Next room that I visited was Yarra Room which was a former Council Chamber for the city. Another room that showcases how grandeur Melbourne Town Hall is.

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Photos inside Yarra Room

Main Hall and Balcony

The jewel of Melbourne Town Hall goes to this grandiose main hall where it also host one of the most beautiful, romantic and the largest pipe organ in southern hemisphere. This is largest and most glamorous room within the town hall where majority of events happening which includes orchestras, choirs, multimedia launches, symposium, meetings, weddings, party’s and a lot more.

When I visited the main hall, there was scheduled organ playing but I haven’t got a chance to listened most of it as I still wanted to explore other parts of the town hall.

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Largest Pipe Organ in Southern Hemisphere

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Interiors and balcony of Main Hall

Melbourne Room

Another historic room exist in the town hall is Melbourne Room. This  is the room where Queen Elizabeth II has been served with tea in 1954. I had few photos in this room due to a lot of people around, it was difficult to get panoramic shot inside the room.

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Some photos of Melbourne Room

Portico Room

Another historical part of the town hall and maybe famous to some people is its Portico and Balcony. It was the impressive portico where Beattles and ABBA waved to their fans during their visit in the city.

When I was standing here, I had a chance to see some part of CBD, in front of Melbourne Town Hall at the other side of Swanston Street is Manchester Unity Building and Melbourne City Square can be found at the left side of the building along Collins Street. I  had read some stuff about the  first proposed location of the town hall and it was far from where it stands, and because of the debate  for its location it was built in the heart of Melbourne CBD.

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Snapshots while at the Portico

Notes:

1. Plan to visit Melbourne Town Hall ?
Address : 90-120 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Free Tours : Available during weekdays, for more details and its schedule, please check here

2. Public Transportation Ticket – Use Myki (Melbourne Ticketing System), please check here for more details.

3. Directions

Using tram

Use tramTracker Apps or even just Google Maps (use directions) and there are tram routes available
Route: 1, 3/3a, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67, 72 –> get off at Stop 11 – Town Hall / Collins Street or Stop 10 Bourke Street Mall/Bourke Street
Route: 112, 109, 48 –> get off at Stop 6 –  Town Hall / Collins Street

Using train

Visit the official Public Transport Victoria website to be able to use the Journey Planner for the next train schedule.

Ride from any station and get off at Flinders Street Station or Melbourne Central Station

From Flinders Street Station, get off at St Kilda Road Exit and continue walking along Swanston Street and the building is within the corner of Swanton Street and Collins Street.

From Melbourne Central Station, get off at Swantons Street Exit and continue walking along Swanston Street and the building is at the left side of Swanston Street corner Collins Street.

Structure : Melbourne Town Hall

Structure (Post#9) : Melbourne Town Hall

One of the noticeable building at the heart of Melbourne CBD is Melbourne Town Hall which built in 1867. The building has its grandeur architectural design not only because of its impressive exterior style but also because it composed of many rooms that displays how majestic the town hall itself. The photo is part of Melbourne Town Hall Photo Collection 2013.

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Still Expression : Melbourne Town Hall – Organ Playing

Still Expression (Post#5) : Melbourne Town Hall – Organ Playing

During my visit in Melbourne Town Hall’s Main Hall, there is someone playing the historical and largest organ pipe in southern hemisphere. Piano or organ playing was once my dream to be. The photo is part of Melbourne Town Hall Photo Collection 2013.

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Interior : Melbourne Town Hall – Main Hall

Interior (Post#7) : Melbourne Town Hall – Main Hall

I can probably say that the Main Hall or auditorium of Melbourne Town Hall is the grandest and most impressive room of all. It is the largest room which can handle at least 2000 people for an event. This hall is also hosting the historical and largest pipe in southern hemisphere. I admired this room not only because of the pipe organ which is the jewel of the room and the town hall itself, but because of the grandeur of the interior of the hall. I felt that the design of the room is already a proof of its more than a century history. By just looking on its eye-catching decorated ceilings and magnificent chandeliers, anyone will be amazed. And when I moved to another seat just to see the whole balcony and the walls with drawing designs, all of it depicts how grand the room is. These photos are part of Melbourne Town Hall Photo Collection 2013.

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Pipe Organ (Largest in Southern Hemisphere)

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Ceilings, Chandeliers and Stencil Walls

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Ceilings

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Stencil Walls

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Balcony

Interior : Melbourne Town Hall – Yarra Room

Interior (Post#6) : Melbourne Town Hall – Yarra Room

Another room to see inside Melbourne Town Hall is Yarra Room. This room again displays how impressive and elegant the town hall is. It can accommodate up to maximum of 150 people if the event is cocktail. Historically, it is a former Council Chamber of the city. These photos are part of Melbourne Town Hall Photo Collection 2013.

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Interior : Melbourne Town Hall – Council Chambers

Interior (Post#5) : Melbourne Town Hall – Council Chambers

One of the impressive room to be found inside Melbourne Town Hall is Council Chambers which is part before of old city court. The room showcases how the ceilings has been beautifully decorated, how refined the wood panels has been carved and how glass windows has been colored and drawn its mallet used by H.R.H the Duke of Edinburgh to lay the foundation stone of the town hall in 1867. Overall, the room is categorized as combination of Italian and English Renaissance style. These photos are part of Melbourne Town Hall Photo Collection 2013.

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Council Chambers

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Ornate Ceilings

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Carved Wood Panelling

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Stained Glass with Mallet of H.R.H the Duke of Edinburgh

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View At My Window : Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ

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View At My Window (Post#12) : Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ

The reason why I like Open House event in any city is because of the freedom to enter in a building whether its public or private  for free. Melbourne Town Hall was one of the building that I got a chance to visit during the event. And here one of the best feature of the Town Hall is its majestic Main Hall where one of the most beautiful pipe organ in the world can be found, it is the original wood-carved Grand Organ which built-in 1929. The said organ has been refurbished and relaunched last 2001. The photo captured during Open House Melbourne event held last July 2013.

View At My Window: A Little Bit Snapshot Of City Square

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View At My Window (Post#1): A Little Bit Snapshot Of City Square

Swanston Street (corner Collins Street) From Melbourne Town Hall

I usually pass this area every time I am on my way to work during my project assignment in Melbourne. They also call this place as City Square.